#THE PETROLEUM ACT, 1934 
______ 

##ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 
______ 

###PRELIMINARY 

SECTIONS 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 
2. Definitions. 

###CHAPTER I 

###CONTROL OVER PETROLEUM 

3. Import, transport and storage of petroleum. 
4. Rules for the import, transport and storage of petroleum. 
5. Production, refining and blending of petroleum. 
6. Receptacles of petroleum Class A to show a warning. 
7. No licence needed for transport or storage of limited quantities of petroleum Class B or petroleum 
  Class C. 
8. No licence needed for import, transport or storage of small quantities of petroleum Class A. 
9. Exemptions for motor conveyances and stationary engines. 
10. No licence needed by railway administration acting as carrier. 
11. Exemption of heavy oils. 
12. General power of exemption. 
13. Inspection of places. 

###CHAPTER II 

###THE TESTING OF PETROLEUM 

14. Inspection and sampling of petroleum. 
15. Standard Test Apparatus. 
16. Certification of other test apparatus. 
17. Testing officers. 
18. Manner of test. 
19. Certificate of testing. 
20. Right to require re-test. 
21. Power to make rules regarding tests. 
22. Special rules for testing viscous or solid forms of petroleum. 

###CHAPTER III 

###PANALTIES AND PROCEDURE 

23. General penalty for offences under this Act. 
24. Confiscation of petroleum and receptacles. 
25. Jurisdiction. 
26. Power of entry and search. 
27. Notice of accidents with petroleum. 
28. Inquiries into serious accidents with petroleum. 

###CHAPTER IV 

###SUPPLEMENTAL 

29. Provisions relating to rules 
30. [Repealed.]. 
31. Power to limit powers of local authorities over petroleum. 
32. [Repealed.]. 
THE SCHEDULE. —[Repealed.]. 



#THE PETROLEM ACT, 1934 

##ACT NO. 30 OF 1934

[6th September, 1934.] 

An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to the import, transport, storage, production, refining 
  and blending of petroleum.

  WHEREAS  it  is  expedient  to  consolidate  and  amend  the  law  relating  to  import,  transport,  storage, 
production, refining and blending of petroleum; It is hereby enacted as follows: — 

###PRELIMINARY 

1. **Short title, extent and commencement.** —(1) This Act may be called the Petroleum Act, 1934. 

(2) It extends to the whole of India. 

(3) It  shall  come  into  force  on such date as  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the 
Official Gazette, appoint. 

2. **Definitions.**—In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,— 

  (a) “petroleum” means any liquid hydrocarbon or mixture of hydrocarbons, and any inflammable 
mixture (liquid, viscous or solid) containing any liquid hydrocarbon; 

  (b) “petroleum  Class  A”  means  petroleum  having  a  flash-point  below  twenty-three  degrees 
Centigrade; 

  (bb)  “petroleum  Class  B”  means  petroleum  having  a  flash-point  of  twenty-three  degrees 
Centigrade and above but below sixty-five degrees Centigrade; 

  (bbb) “petroleum Class C” means petroleum having a flash-point of sixty-five degrees Centigrade 
and above but below ninety-three degree Centigrade;

  (c) “flash-point” of  any  petroleum  means  the  lowest  temperature  at  which  it  yields  a  vapour 
which  will  give  a  momentary  flash  when  ignited,  determined  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of 
Chapter II and the rules made thereunder; 

  (d) “to transport petroleum” means to move petroleum from one place to another in India and 
includes moving from one place to another in India across a territory which is not part of India;

  (e) “to import” petroleum means to bring it into India by land, sea or air, otherwise than during 
the course of transport; 

  (f) “to  store”  petroleum  means  to  keep  it  in  any  one  place,  but  does  not  include  any  detention 
happening during the ordinary course of transport; 

  (g) “motor  conveyance”  means  any  vehicle,  vessel  or  aircraft  for  the  conveyance  of  human 
beings,  animals  or  goods,  by  land,  water  or  air,  in  which  petroleum  is  used  to  generate  the  motive 
power; 

  (h) “prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act. 

###CHAPTER I 

###CONTROL OVER PETROLEUM 

3. **Import, transport and storage of petroleum.**—(1) No one shall import, transport or store any 
petroleum save in accordance with the rules made under section 4. 

(2) Save in accordance with the conditions of any licence for the purpose which he may be required to 
obtain by rules made under section 4, no one shall import petroleum Class A, and no one shall transport 
transport or store any petroleum. 

4. **Rules  for  the  import,  transport  and  storage  of  petroleum.**—The Central Government may 
makes rules— 

  (a) prescribing places where petroleum may be imported and prohibiting its import elsewhere; 

  (b) regulating the import of petroleum; 

  (c) prescribing the periods within which licences for the import of petroleum Class A shall be 
applied for, and providing for the disposal, by confiscation or otherwise, of any petroleum Class A 
in respect of which a licence has not been applied for within the prescribed period or has been refused 
and which has not been exported; 

  (d) regulating the transport of petroleum; 

  (e) specifying the nature and condition of all receptacles and pipe-lines in which petroleum may 
be transported; 

  (f) regulating the places at which and prescribing the conditions subject to which petroleum may 
be stored; 

  (g) specifying  the  nature, situation  and  condition  of  all  receptacles  in  which  petroleum  may  be 
stored; 

  (h) prescribing the form and conditions of licences for the import of petroleum Class A, and for 
the transport or storages of any petroleum, the manner in which applications for such licences shall be 
made,  the  authorities  which  may  grant  such  licences  and  the  fees  which  may  be  charged  for  such 
licences; 

  (i) determining  in  any  class  of  cases  whether  a  licence  for  the  transport  of  petroleum  shall  be 
obtained by the consignor, consignee or carrier; 

  (j) providing  for  the  granting  of  combined  licences  for  the  import,  transport  and  storage  of 
petroleum, or for any two of such purposes; 

  (k) prescribing  the  proportion  in  which  any  specified  poisonous  substance  may  be  added  to 
petroleum, and prohibiting the import, transport or storage of petroleum in which the proportion of 
any specified poisonous substance exceeds the prescribed proportion; and 

  (l) generally, providing for any matter which in its opinion is expedient for proper control over 
the  import,  transport  and  storage  of  petroleum including the charging  of  fees  for  any  services 
rendered in connection with the import, transport and storage of petroleum. 

5. **Production, refining and blending of petroleum.**—  (1)  No  one  shall  produce,  refine  or  blend 
petroleum save in accordance with the rules made under sub-section (2). 

(2) The Central Government may makes rules— 

  (a) prescribing the conditions subject to which petroleum may be produced, refined or blended; 
and 

  (b) regulating the removal of petroleum from places where it is produced, refined or blended and 
preventing  the  storage  therein  and  removal  therefrom, except as petroleum Class A, of any 
petroleum, which has not satisfied the prescribed tests. 

6. **Receptacles of petroleum  Class A to show a warning.**—All receptacles containing petroleum 
Class A shall have a stamped, embossed, painted or printed warning, either on the receptacle itself or, 
where that is impracticable, displayed near the receptacle, exhibiting in conspicuous characters the words 
“Petrol” or “Motor Spirit”, or an equivalent warning of the dangerous nature of the petroleum: 

  Provided that this section shall not apply to— 

     (a) any securely stoppered glass, stoneware or metal receptacle of less than ten litres capacity 
containing petroleum Class A which is not for sale, or 

     (b) a tank incorporated in a motor conveyance, or attached to an internal combustion engine, and 
containing  petroleum  intended  to  be  used  to  generate  motive  power  for  the  motor  conveyance  or 
engine, or 

     (c) a pipe-line for the transport of petroleum, or 

     (d) any tank which is wholly underground, or 

     (e) any  class  of  receptacles  which  the  Central  Government  may,  by  notification  in  the  Official 
Gazette, exempt from the operation of this section. 

7. **No  licence  needed  for  transport  or  storage  of  limited  quantities  of  petroleum  Class  B  or 
petroleum Class C.**—Notwithstanding  anything  contained  in  this  Chapter,  a  person  need  not  obtain  a 
licence for the transport or storage of— 

  (i) petroleum Class B if the total quantity in his possession at any one place does not exceed two 
thousand and five hundred litres and none of it is contained in a receptacle exceeding one thousand 
litres in capacity; or 

  (ii) petroleum  Class  C  if  the  total  quantity  in  his  possession  at  any  one  place  does  not  exceed 
forty-five  thousand  litres  and  such  petroleum  is  transported  or  stored  in  accordance  with  the  rules 
made under section 4. 

8. **No  licence  needed  for  import,  transport  or  storage  of  small  quantities  of  petroleum  Class 
A.**—(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Chapter, a person need not obtain a licence for the 
import,  transport  or  storage  of  petroleum  Class  A  not  intended  for  sale  if  the  total  quantity  in  his 
possession does not exceed thirty litres, 

(2) Petroleum  Class  A  possessed  without  a  licence  under  this  section  shall  be  kept  in  securely 
stoppered receptacles of glass, stoneware or metal which shall not, in the case of receptacles of glass or 
stoneware, exceed one liter in capacity or, in the case of receptacles of metal exceed twenty-five litres in 
capacity.

9. **Exemptions  for  motor  conveyances  and  stationary  engines.**—(1)  The  owner  of  a  motor 
conveyance,  who  complies  with  the  requirements  of  the  law  for  the  time  being  in  force  relating  to  the 
registration  and  licensing  of  such  conveyance  and  its  driver  or  pilot  and  the  owner  of  any  stationary 
internal combustion engine, shall not be required to obtain a licence— 

  (a) for the import, transport or storage of any petroleum contained in any fuel tank incorporated 
in the conveyance or attached to the internal combustion engine, or 

  (b) for  the  transport  or  storage  of petroleum Class A, not exceeding one hundred litres in 
quantity in addition to any quantity possessed under clause (a), 

provided the petroleum is intended to be used to generate motive power for motor conveyance or engine: 

  Provided  further  that  the  total  quantity  of petroleum Class A which  may  be  stored  without  a 
licence  under  clause  (b)  shall  not  exceed one hundred litres, notwithstanding  that  such  owner  may 
possess other motor conveyances or engines.

(2) Petroleum Class A transported or stored without a licence under clause (b) of sub-section (1) 
shall be kept as provided in sub-section (2) of section 8, and, if it exceeds thirty litres in quantity, shall 
be stored in an isolated place which does not communicate with any room where any person resides or 
works or in any room where persons assemble. 

10. **No  licence  needed  by  railway  administration  acting  as  carrier.**—Notwithstanding  anything 
contained  in  this  Chapter,  a  railway  administration  as  defined  in section  3 of  the  Indian  Railways  Act, 
1890 (9 of 1890) need not obtain any licence for the import or transport of any petroleum in its possession 
in its capacity as carrier. 

11. **Exemption of heavy oils.**—Nothing in this Chapter shall apply to any petroleum which has its 
flash-point not below ninety-three degrees Centigrade.

12. **General power of exemption.**—The Central Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette,  exempt  any  petroleum  specified  in  the  notification  from  all  or  any  of  the  provisions  of  this 
Chapter. 

13. **Inspection of places.**— (1) The Central Government may authorise any officer by name or by 
virtue  of  office  to  enter  any  place  where  petroleum  is  being  imported,  stored,  produced,  refined  or 
blended, or is under transport, and inspect all receptacles, plant and appliances used in connection with 
petroleum in order to ascertain if they are in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter and the rules 
made thereunder. 

(2) The Central Government may make rules regulating the procedure of officers authorised under 
this section. 

###CHAPTER II 

###THE TESTING OF PETROLEUM 

14. **Inspection and sampling of petroleum.**—(1) The Central Government may, by notification in 
the  Official  Gazette,  authorise,  any  officer  by  name  or  by  virtue  of  office  to  enter  any  place  where 
petroleum  is  being  imported,  transported,  stored,  produced,  refined  or  blended  and  to  inspect  and  take 
samples for testing of any petroleum found therein. 

(2) The Central Government may make rules— 

  (a) regulating the taking of samples of petroleum for testing; 

  (b) determining the cases in which payment shall be made for the value of samples taken, and the 
mode of payment, and 

  (c) generally, regulating the procedure of officers exercising powers under this section. 

15. **Standard Test Apparatus.**—(1)  A  standard  apparatus  for  determining  the flash-point of 
petroleum shall be deposited with an officer to be appointed in this behalf by the Central Government 
by notification in the Official Gazette. 

(2) Such apparatus shall be engraved with the words “Standard Test Apparatus”, and shall be verified 
and corrected from time to time and replaced when necessary, in accordance with rules under section 21. 

(3) The Standard Test Apparatus shall, on payment of the prescribed fee, be open to inspection at all 
reasonable times by any person wishing to inspect it. 

16. **Certification of other test apparatus.**—(1)  The  officer  appointed  under  section  15  shall,  on 
payment  of  the  prescribed  fee,  if  any,  compare  with  the  Standard  Test  Apparatus  and  apparatus  for 
determining the flash-point of petroleum which may be submitted to him for this purpose. 

(2) If  any  apparatus  is  found  by  him  to  agree  with  the  Standard  Test  Apparatus  within  prescribed 
limits, the officer shall engrave such apparatus with a special number and with the date of the comparison 
and  shall  give  a  certificate  in  respect  of  it  in  the  prescribed  form,  certifying  that  on  the  said  date  the 
apparatus  was  compared  with  the  Standard  Test  Apparatus  and  was  found  to  agree  with  it  within  the 
prescribed  limits,  and  specifying  any  corrections  to  be  made  in  the  results  of  tests  carried  out  with  the 
apparatus. 

(3) A certificate granted under this section shall be valid for such period as may be prescribed. 

(4) A certificate granted under this section shall, during the period for which it is valid, be proof, until 
the contrary is proved, of any matter stated therein. 

(5) The officer shall keep a register in the prescribed form of all certificates granted by him under this 
section. 

17. **Testing officers.**— The Central Government may authorise any officer by name or by virtue of 
office  to  test  petroleum  of  which  samples  have  been  taken  under  this  Act,  or  which  may  have  been 
submitted to him for test by any person, and to grant certificates of the results of such tests. 

18. **Manner of test.**—All tests of petroleum made under this Act shall be made with a test apparatus 
in  respect  of  which  there  is  valid  certificate  under  section  16,  shall  have  due  regard  to  any  correction 
specified in that certificate, and shall be carried out in accordance with rules made under section 21. 

19. **Certificate of testing.**— (1) The testing officer after testing samples of petroleum shall make 
out a certificate in the prescribed form, stating whether the petroleum is petroleum Class A or petroleum 
Class  B  or  petroleum  Class  C  and  if  the  petroleum  is  petroleum  Class  B  or  petroleum  Class  C,  the 
flash-point of the petroleum.

(2) The testing officer shall furnish the person concerned, at his request, with a certified copy of the 
certificate,  on  payment  of  the  prescribed  fee,  and  such  certified  copy  may  be  produced in  any  court  in 
proof of the contents of the original certificate. 

(3)  A  certificate  given  under this  section shall  be  admitted  as  evidence in  any proceedings  which 
may be taken under this Act in respect of the petroleum from which the samples were taken,  and shall, 
until the contrary is proved, be conclusive proof, that the petroleum is petroleum Class A or petroleum 
Class  B  or  petroleum  Class  C,  and,  if  the  petroleum  is  petroleum  Class  B  or  petroleum  Class  C,  of  its 
flash-point.

20. **Right to require re-test.**—(1) The owner of any petroleum, or his agent, who is dissatisfied with 
the  result  of  the  test  of  the  petroleum  may,  within  seven  days  from  the  date  on  which  he  received 
intimation of the result of the test, apply to the officer empowered under section 14 to have fresh samples 
of the petroleum taken and tested. 

(2) On such application and on payment of the prescribed fee, fresh samples of the petroleum shall be 
taken in the presence of such owner or agent or person deputed by him, and shall be tested in the presence 
of such owner or agent or person deputed by him. 

(3) If, on such re-test, it appears that the original test was erroneous the testing officer shall cancel the 
original certificate granted under section 19, shall make out a fresh certificate, and shall furnish the owner 
of the petroleum, or his agent, with a certified copy thereof, free of charge. 

21. **Power to make rules regarding tests.**—The Central Government may make rules— 

  (a) for the specification, verification, correction and replacement of the Standard Test Apparatus; 

  (b) prescribing fees for the inspection of the Standard Test Apparatus; 

  (c) regulating the procedure in comprising a test apparatus with the Standard Test Apparatus; 

  (d) prescribing the form of certificate to be given in respect of a test apparatus so compared, and 
the period for which such certificate shall be valid; 

  (e) prescribing the form of the register of such certificates; 

  (f) prescribing fees for comparing a test apparatus with Standard Test Apparatus; 

  (g) regulating the procedure of testing officers in carrying out tests of petroleum, providing for 
the averaging of results where several samples of the same petroleum are tested, and prescribing the 
variations from standard temperatures which may be allowed; 

  (h) prescribing the form of certificate of tests of petroleum and the fees which may be charged 
therefore; 

  (i) providing, where the results of the testing of samples raise a doubt as to the uniformity of the 
quality  of  the  petroleum  in  any  lot  under  test,  for  the  division  of  the  lot  into  sub-lots,  and  for  the 
selection and testing of samples of each sub-lot and for the averaging of results in accordance with 
the results of tests of those samples; 

  (j) prescribing fees for re-tests under section 20 and providing for their refund where the original 
test was erroneous; and 

  (k) generally, regulating the procedure of all officers performing duties connected with the testing 
of petroleum, and providing for any matter incidental to such testing. 

22. **Special  rules  for  testing  viscous  or  solid  forms  of  petroleum.**—The Central Government 
may also make rules providing specially for the testing of any form of petroleum which is viscous or solid 
or  contains  sediment  or  thickening  ingredients,  and  such  rules  may  modify  or  supplement  any  of  the 
provisions  of  this  Chapter  or  of  the  rules  made  under  section  21  in  order  to  adapt  them  to  the  special 
needs of such tests. 

###CHAPTER III 

###PENALTIES AND PROCEDURE 

23. **General penalty for offences under this Act.**—(1) Whoever— 

  (a) in contravention of any of the provisions of Chapter I or of any of the rules made thereunder, 
imports, transports, stores, produces, refines or blends any petroleum, or 

  (b) contravenes any rule made under section 4 or section 5, or 

  (c) being the holder or a licence issued under section 4 or a person for the time being placed by 
the holder of such licence in control or in charge of any place where petroleum is being imported or 
stored,  or  is  under  transport,  contravenes  any  condition  of  such  licence  or  suffers  any  condition  of 
such licence to be contravened, or

  (d) being  for  the  time  being  in  control  or  in  charge  of  any  place  where  petroleum  is  being 
imported, stored,  produced,  refined  or  blended  or  is under  transport,  refuses  or  neglects to  show  to 
any  officer  authorised  under  section  13  any  receptacle,  plant  or  appliance  used  in  such  place  in 
connection  with  petroleum,  or  in  any  way  obstructs or fails  to  render reasonable  assistance  to  such 
officer during an inspection, or 

  (e) being  for  the  time  being  in  control  or  in  charge  of  any  place  where  petroleum  is  being 
imported, transported, stored, produced, refined or blended, refuses or neglects to show to any officer 
authorised under section 14 any petroleum in such place, or to give him such assistance as he may 
require for the inspection of such petroleum, or refuses to allow him to take samples of the petroleum, 
or 

  (f) being  required,  under  section  27,  to  give  information  of  an  accident,  fails  to  give  such 
information as so required by that section, 

shall be punishable with simple imprisonment which may extend to one month, or with fine which may 
extend to one thousand rupees, or with both. 

(2) If  any  person,  having  been  convicted  of  an  offence  punishable  under  sub-section  (1),  is  again 
guilty of any offence punishable under that sub-section, he shall be punishable for every such subsequent 
offence with simple imprisonment which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to 
five thousand rupees, or with both. 

24. **Confiscation  of  petroleum  and  receptacles.**—(1) In any  case  in  which  an  offence  under 
clause (a) or clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 23 has been committed, the convicting 
Magistrate may direct that— 

  (a) the petroleum in respect of which the offence has been committed, or 

  (b) where the offender is convicted of importing, transporting or storing petroleum exceeding the 
quantity he is permitted to import, transport or store, as the case may be, the whole of the petroleum 
in respect of which the offence was committed, 

shall, together with the receptacles in which it is contained, be confiscated. 

(2) This power may also be exercised by the High Court in the exercise of its appellate or revisional 
powers. 

25. **Jurisdiction.**—(1) Offences punishable under this Act shall be triable in the Presidency-towns, by 
a Presidency Magistrate, and elsewhere by a Magistrate of the first class, or by a Magistrate of the second 
class who has been specially empowered by the Central Government in this behalf. 

26. **Power of entry and search.**— (1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official 
Gazette, authorise any officer by name or by virtue of office to enter and search any place where he has 
reason to believe that any petroleum is being imported, transported, stored, produced, refined or blended 
otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder, and to seize, 
detain or remove any or all of the petroleum in respect of which in his opinion an offence under this Act 
has been committed. 

(2) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to searches shall, 
so far as they are applicable, apply to searches by officers authorised under this section. 

(3) The Central Government may make rules regulating the procedure of authorised officers in the 
exercise of their powers under this section subject, however, to the provisions of sub-section (2). 

27. **Notice of accidents with petroleum.**—Whenever  there  occurs  in  or  about,  or  in  connection 
with, any place in which petroleum is refined, blended or kept, or any carriage or vessel either conveying 
petroleum  or  on  or  from  which  petroleum  is  being  loaded  or  unloaded,  any  accident  by  explosion 
or by fire as a result of the ignition of petroleum or petroleum vapour attended with loss of human life or 
serious  injury  to  person  or  property,  or  of  a  description  usually  attended  with  such  loss  or  injury,  the 
occupier of the place or the person for the time being in charge of the petroleum or the person in charge of 
the carriage or the master of the vessel, as the case may be, shall, within such time and in such manner as 
may  be  prescribed,  give  notice  thereof  and  of  the  attendant  loss  of  human  life,  or  injury  to  person  or 
property, if any, to the nearest Magistrate or to the officer in charge of the nearest police station and to 
the Chief Controller of Explosives.

28. **Inquiries into serious accidents with petroleum.**— (1) The inquiry mentioned in section 176 of 
the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall, unless section 8 of the Coroners Act, 1871 
(4 of 1871), is applicable to the circumstances, be held in all cases where any person has been killed by 
an  accident  which  the  Magistrate  has  reason  to  believe  was  the  result  of  the  ignition  of  petroleum  or 
petroleum vapour. 

(2) Any  Magistrate  empowered  to  hold  an  inquest  may  also  hold  an inquiry  under the  said  section 
into the cause of any accident which he has reason to believe was the result of the ignition of petroleum or 
petroleum vapour, if such accident was attended by serious injury to person or property, notwithstanding 
that no person was killed thereby. 

(3) For the purposes of sub-section (2) a Commissioner of Police shall be deemed to be a 
be a Magistrate empowered to hold an inquest. 

(4) The result of all inquiries held in pursuance of this section and of any inquiry held by a coroner 
in  a  case  to  which  sub-section  (1)  refers shall be  submitted  as  soon  as  may  be  to  the Central 
Government, the Chief Controller of Explosives and the State Government. 

###CHAPTER IV 

###SUPPLEMENTAL 

29. **Provisions relating to rules.**—(1) In making any rules under this Act, the Central Government 
Government may— 

  (a) provide for any matter ancillary to such rules for which in its opinion provision is necessary 
necessary  to  protect  the  public  from  danger  arising  from  the  import,  transport,  storage,  production, 
refining or blending of petroleum, and 

  (b) make special provision for the special circumstances of any State or place. 

(2) Every  power  to  make  rules  conferred  by  this  Act  is  subject  to  the  condition  of  previous 
publication. 

(3) All rules made under this Act shall be published in the Official Gazette. 

[^4][(4) Every  rule  made  under  this  Act shall be laid,  as soon  as  may  be  after it  is made,  before  each 
House of Parliament, while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one 
session  or  in  two  or  more  successive  sessions,  and  if,  before  the  expiry  of  the  session  immediately 
following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses agree in making any modification 
in the rule,  or  both  Houses  agree that the rule  should  not be  made, the rule shall  thereafter  have  effect 
only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification 
or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.] 

30. *[Power  to  apply  Act  to  other  substances.]—Rep.  by  the  Inflammable  Substances  Act,* 1952 
(20 of 1952), s. 7. 

31. **Power  to  limit  powers  of  local  authorities  over  petroleum.**—Where  any  enactment  confers 
powers  upon  any  local  authority  in  respect  of  the  transport  or  storage  of  petroleum,  the  Central 
Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette,— 

  (a) limit the operation of such enactment, or 

  (b) restrict the exercise of such powers, in any manner it deems fit. 

32. *[Repeals.]— Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1938 (1 of 1938), s. 2 and the Schedule.*

THE SCHEDULE.—*[Enactments repealed.] Rep. by s. 2 and the Schedule, ibid.]*



[^4]. Ins. by Act 31 of 1977, s. 5 (w.e.f. 12-8-1977). 